APA Group, an Australian energy infrastructure company, has officially inaugurated its 88-MW Dugald River solar park in Queensland. Positioned as the largest remote-grid photovoltaic (PV) site in the country, the solar complex, previously known as Mica Creek, is situated in Mount Isa, North West Minerals Province.
With approximately 180,000 solar panels spread across 20 hectares (49.4 acres), the Dugald River solar park is set to supply electricity to the region's mining operations, equivalent to the annual consumption of about 90,000 homes. The plant is linked to the grid through a 1,100 km overhead transmission line.
The electricity generated will be provided to major mining companies in the area, including Mount Isa Mines, a part of Swiss commodity trader and miner Glencore, as well as projects by sector players New Century and MMG Limited. MMG Limited has secured a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for half of the site's capacity.
The Dugald River solar park was developed on land leased from the Queensland government near APA's Diamantina combined-cycle gas turbine power complex.
